The use of mental maps for understanding the relationship of mathematics and physics

Abstract

This research is part of a doctoral thesis that is being developed in the Doctoral Program in Education- Teaching of Sciences, at the University of Burgos, Spain. This work was motivated by situations experienced in the teaching of the discipline of Differential and Integral Calculus for incoming students in the courses of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering of a Community University of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. The study seeks to understand how free associations can contribute to student giving meaning to the concepts of Calculus. The aim of the research is to verify existing subsumers, by means of mind maps and conceptual schemes, in the association between Mathematics and Physics. Thus, to investigate such subsumers, we chose to develop a qualitative approach by constructing a Free Mind Map and a Directed Mind Map. We perceived that both are appropriate to the organization of ideas and to understand how Mathematics and Physics are perceived by students.

Keywords

• cálculo
• física
• mapas mentais
• subsunçores.